Are there any other shoppes or merchandisers who are disabled, on social security? I’d love to talk with you about your experiences.

I have a back and knees that render me disabled. In the past, I was in the disability system. However, and to borrow a phrase from our beloved shopperbob, I fired the disability system because it annoyed me to the point where it was generating other, unwanted stress issues. I did not need that stress. I feel better now that I am free from the system. OTOH, I still need some money and I have my variety of jobs. I am learning to live without the disability money and to make the most of my various jobs and gigs. This is just me, and I always have preferred to have multiple types of work. This is almost like starting over in the world of work, except with a few changes: older, out of school, the back and knee situation, and a changing world. This is just me, and I am fortunate. The IC world accommodates my craving for work variety, and my wage job provides a stable foundation and consistent income.

My experience is uniquely mine, and it should not deter anyone from seeking or using disability or any other benefits that might ease their burden.

Sometimes, receiving the additional revenue means that people can finely define their work plans so as to avoid stressing themselves too much and still meet their financial obligations. Depending upon the person, they might pursue training or education and receive benefits during this time of preparation. Everyone is unique, and there might be something for everyone out there.

And to add....
The disability "system" does not provide much, if anything, for many sorts of disabilities that can make it very difficult to hold a traditional work schedule. Anyone, for instance, who has an unpredictable few days a month when leaving the house is not feasible, may need a gig that they can reschedule with few or no negative consequences. That may not make one eligible for disability compensation but it also may make it impossible to be retained in an "ordinary" employment situation. As you read posts in the forum, you will soon see that a large portion of MSers here appear to be in that situation.

I am NOT on SSDI, I am disabled from an accident at work a while back. I have nerve damage in my dominant hand which makes it difficult to write, or handle tools. And I have damage to both of my knees. I've tried to apply for SSDI several times but I don't have access to the information they want from me. So, I've never been able to complete the application, and the workman's comp docs discharged me, and I refuse to take pain meds, so I'm not seeing a doctor.

I have been doing mystery shopping since 2013 to make ends meet, and sometimes they don't. The pandemic threw me for a loop. I filed for unemployment, and that helped for a little bit, but I live in one of those "red" states that quit the unemployment payments early because folks weren't going back to work fast enough. mystery shopping is back, but the pickin's are thin, and they aren't paying as well.

Morledzep : About the only way a person can get SSDI, is to hire a lawyer that specializes in it. My S-I-L applied 10 or 11 times over the past 14 years to get it and they always turned her down, saying she was missing paperwork of one type or another. Finally last year she got a lawyer and in 3 months got the ssdi with back payments of a year. I think she said the lawyer took 15% of it. I know several other people that also tried to get ssdi or ssi and finally after hiring a lawyer they got it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2021 01:04AM by sueac101.

There are other, indirect helps for people who are not fully employed, not employed in previous jobs, or experiencing other job challenges such as disappearing opportunities or lowered remuneration. My personal fave is an oldie but goodie. While you are waiting for benefits, or wondering how to live a lot longer without them, you could scrounge up enough gigs and work enough to buy a boatload of groceries that can make many, many meals. Cook and freeze large batches. If you need a buddy to do food prep, this is okay. Share the cost, the work, and the food. Some stores sell a few peeled, pared, chopped, or otherwise readied foods. They cost a bit more. You will soon learn which recipes and kitchen gadgets provide the most bang for you pain, I mean buck and possible occasional discomfort. You can do more sooner with a buddy and some kitchen doodads than if you relied only upon your knees, back, fatigue, hands, or such. I did not create this. Necessity and serendipity led me to free books that teach how to do these things. They are older, and you have your preferences. It sounds like you have time to study the basics. It gets fun when you adapt recipes for your preferences and try new ones. If you like this approach, you get a goodie. You will no longer need to cook and clean up large kitchen messes multiple times per day. No one will pay you a fee or reimburse you (unless you are harvesting from your restaurant shops and stocking up with grocery store shops). But you will have a supportive tool for taking good care of you.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2021 04:48AM by Shop-et-al.

I have Ankylosing Spondylitis, a crippling autoimmune form of arthritis. I began MSing when a 9-5 became impossible, but I was not ready to quit working. As Shop-et-al and Wales have said, there are advantages to gig work over SSDI. I now focus more on merchandising than MSing, and the occasional app gig. I always have several "irons in the fire."

I have anxiety and depression. I also have IBS and gastroparesis, which is a disease where my stomach doesn't empty correctly and food tends to move slowly throughout my GI system. I have been trying to get SSDI since 2019. Right now I am only doing web and phone shops to help my husband pay the bills.

@sueac101 wrote:

Morledzep : About the only way a person can get SSDI, is to hire a lawyer that specializes in it. My S-I-L applied 10 or 11 times over the past 14 years to get it and they always turned her down, saying she was missing paperwork of one type or another. Finally last year she got a lawyer and in 3 months got the ssdi with back payments of a year. I think she said the lawyer took 15% of it. I know several other people that also tried to get ssdi or ssi and finally after hiring a lawyer they got it.

sueac101, I tried to use a lawyer this year, they started the process, but stopped abruptly when I told them that I am eligible for early retirement now that I'm over 59 1/2. Because of my ex, who was never my husband, if I apply for early retirement my monthly payments will be only $399. Not enough to live on, even without a house payment. So right now my choices are to do what I can with what I have, and get all the bonus' I can doing mystery shopping until I find a legal way to get my ex off of my retirement pension. Or find a way to survive here on less than $400 per month.

@Moreledzep: That is interesting about reduced SSI benefits at age 591/2. I always thought the earliest age for reduced SSI benefits was 62. Live and learn.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

@Moreledzep: That is interesting about reduced SSI benefits at age 591/2. I always thought the earliest age for reduced SSI benefits was 62. Live and learn.

NOT SSI or SSDI benefits.. my retirement pension from the company I used to work for before I was injured.

Ah. I get it now.

A Customer's Point of View welcomes people with disabilities as we have bus and train transit shops available in several cities. Not only are we seeking people with disabilities, many of our contracts require the use of wheelchair/mobile device users.

We are seeking shoppers in Oceanside, CA, Columbus, OH, Columbia, SC, Atlanta, GA, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Salt Lake City, UT, Brockton, MA, Delaware (entire state), Greensboro, NC, Tacoma, WA and Little Rock, AR.

Register with us at www.acpview.com and email us at shops@acpview.com.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2021 06:55PM by acpview.

Thank you so much for all your responses! I have been disabled for over 23 years now. However I was able to work up until 2007. I have been on Social Security disability since 2010 and recently started shopping again about six months ago. I would like to try to build a community of a shop or to either are disabled or care for someone disabled. And that way we can help each other with some of the struggles that you do have being a shopper in the situation‘s. Thank you so much again and I hope y’all have a happy new year!

I have been a prepper for the last 15 years and when I became disabled back in 2016 it really paid off we did not have to shop for anything except milk, bread, and eggs. It took a while but we slowly built back up on the groceries. Then Covid hit and we had just finished restocking a lot of stuff. as in toilet paper and paper towels.